SAINT PETERSBURG, November 2. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Energy, which is currently developing Russia's energy strategy until 2050, believes that the share of gas generation in Russia's energy balance will increase to more than 40% by 2050. At the same time, the figure for coal will fall from the current about 14% to around 8%, Russian Minister of Energy Nikolay Shulginov told TASS.
"The share of gas generation will rise, everything depends on consumption. It is already really high today. However, coal power will gradually be phased out of the energy balance, increasing the percentage of gas to more than 40% by 2050," he said.
"The share of coal today is about 14%, we believe that by 2050 it will be about 8%," he said.
The share of generation based on renewable energy sources will rise as well, although its growth will be limited due to instabilities in operation and the availability of flexible generation.
Shulginov said earlier that gas may become the primary source of energy by 2050, which cannot be said for renewable energy source. "In the face of uncertainty, I believe that gas will not only be a transitional fuel during the switch to low-carbon neutrality, but will also remain the primary fuel around 2050. We probably need to approach renewable energy sources with caution," he said.
"I lean toward gas. It is a cost-effective fuel for the energy industry. Well, there will also be a significant amount of nuclear energy," Shulginov noted.